Back by Popular Demand: Tostitos Restaurant Style Salsa

When people find out that I work with Frito-Lay, I always get two questions:  “What new products are available?” and “Why did you discontinue my favorite product (fill in the blank)?”  Even my family asks me these questions: My sister still wants to know when we're going to bring back Fritos Racerz (no current plans).

The good news is that I occasionally get to answer the “discontinued” questions by telling people, “Thanks to frequent requests from our customers and consumers, we’re bringing it back by popular demand.” The most recent example is Tostitos Restaurant Style Salsa, which is back in stores this month.

Like many of you, I was disappointed when Frito-Lay discontinued Tostitos Restaurant Style Salsa two years ago to make room for new flavors of dips -- Tostitos Creamy Spinach, Fritos Zesty Bean and Cheese, etc. I always liked the Restaurant Style Salsa though because it's similar to what you get in restaurants -- it's got a bit of a spicy kick with diced vegetables.

Cathy Dial, Frito-Lay’s Director of Consumer Affairs (and former guest blogger here on Snack Chat), tells me that when Restaurant Style Salsa was discontinued in 2007, we received more than 1,600 requests from consumers via letters and our 1-800 number in just a few months, asking us to bring it back -- more than double any other request that year.  And the requests kept coming in 2008, so the Tostitos marketing team decided to re-launch the popular salsa this year. It still has the same taste and flavor as the product I knew and loved a couple years ago, yet it is now "All Natural," as is the rest of the Tostitos Salsa line-up.

"We are evaluating adding other authentic dips to the line," says Tyler Reeves, head of Marketing for Frito-Lay Dips.  "We're talking to consumers now to find out what they would like, and some of the top ideas are guacamole and cheesy artichoke."

So, if you have a favorite product that has been discontinued, take heart and keep sending your feedback to Consumer Affairs.  You can comment here on Snack Chat, or CLICK HERE to submit your ideas and suggestions to the Consumer Affairs team. 

Frito-Lay cares what you think about our products and listens to what you have to say, as our Tostitos Restaurant Style Salsa re-launch proves.  Tell me what you think of Tostitos Restaurant Style Salsa?

Comments

[Kristin]

Deb -- you can use the product locator on our main Web site to find stores near you that carry it: http://www.fritolay.com/our-snacks/where-to-buy.html

Happy snacking!

[patrick lovett]

tried it. way too watery and tasteless. i see why it was discontinued.

[Kacy]

You should have seen the happy dance my Mom did last night when she came home with a jar of this. She's still pretty giddy. Thanks Frito Lay!

[debchriswhitman]

Please keep the resturant style salsa on the shelves. It's the only kind we will eat. Currently cannot find it in the surrounding stores! Please bring it back to my town. (Independence,Ia)

[Ruth Wilson]

Finally -- the salsa I've been looking for. The chunky ketchupy style salsas are not as good. Please keep this in the stores. I'm stocking up!!

[RWilson]

And also.....
don't change the recipe; it is perfect. There are lots of fresh salsas that cost a lot in the refrigerated section and they are good. But I like the value of your brand and that I can stock up when it goes on sale.

[Marty]

When this product was discontinued a few years ago, I was not aware of the decision. I found out after I went to get some more and it wasn't there. I spent days going to different stores and even called around to see if they had it. Had I known, I would have bought out all remaining supplies. I've spent the last two years trying every salsa I could find and have yet to find one that even comes close!! It's nice to know that the search is over! Thank you so much for bringing it back!!!!

[Katie]

Thank you! Thank you! I love this product and am so happy that it is back!!! I use this in countless recipes and it is a regular for our family snack!!!

[Alyssa Schrader]

I am so excited. I lived on this salsa. I spent months looking for it on the shelves when I found out that it had been discontinued. I tried every other salsa and there just wasn't a substitute. I stopped buying salsa because everything else was just a substitute. Thank you for bringing it back! Running to the stores to find it.

[Richard]

I love this salsa I just wish it came in mild. Please please release a mild version.

[krich]

i'd like to request the creamy southwest dip in baytown (the east side). we accidentally got some in la porte & can't find it anywhere. now i know why...it's all on the other side of town. so PLEEEEEASE diversify our selection in baytown.

[DD]

Thank you for bringing back the best salsa ever! I bought so many jars when it was produced under Santitas. I'm so glad it's back just in time for SUMMER!

[jIll]

PLEASE make your restaurant style salsa in MILD!!!

[Heather Thomas]

I bought it one time & absolutely loved it,now I can't find it anywhere! I can't seem to locate where it is sold on the website??? Please help me find it

[C]

Thank you for heeding my request!! I could scarcely believe my eyes in the grocery story when I saw the Restaurant Style label. The only problem though is that many places still do not stock it, and even the grocery store where I found it has been out for almost a month now, which makes me fear they won't bring it back. Please do more to differentiate the brands to the stores that sell it...I think they think your two types of salsa are the same.

[Greg]

I have been on a year long search for the best salsa within our grocery stores. I found this at my local Food Lion like 2 weeks ago and now I am hooked. Thanks for bringing this to us, amazing.

[Miriam]

I know it's back but it's not the same recipe! the design on the label that reads "restaurant style" is nicer but the salsa DOES NOT taste the same even though they're claiming "it's back". I'm no fool!

[Kristin]

Hi, Miriam. I appreciate your thoughts. I checked with my internal teams here at Frito-Lay, and the Restaurant Style Salsa recipe used now is the exact same one we used when the product was originally introduced. Not sure why it might taste different to you, but we're making it the same way. Thanks for your comment. - Kristin

[Erica]

I love this salsa and always stock up when I find it at my local SuperTarget; however, it is few & far between when I can find it. I would buy it every time I'm at the store, if it was stocked there all the time! Please stock it at Cub Foods & SuperTargets in MN!!

[Dave Schlabowske]

Bought some Restaurant Style Salsa today and it has to be one the worst Salsas I've ever had. Possibly a bad batch, but extremely thin. Almost like Tomato Juice with flavoring. I am very disappointed.

[Katie Smith]

YAYYAYAAAAA Thanks so much for this salsa! I love it!

[Tim]

A few here have commented negatively about Restaurant Syle Salsa. We each have our own preferences, but I love the thin consistency. I hate the thick, chunky, sweet tomato paste salsas found everywhere else. This is a unique product, and I am thrilled that the comeback has been sustained.

[AMY NYBERG]

JUST LOVE YOU'R RESTAURANT STYLE SALAS,GET'S A LITTLE HOT AFTER A SHORT TIME,WONDERING IF YOU COULD MAKE A MILDER ONE ALSO.

[T]

Bought a jar of this today to try out something new and the salsa is pretty watery, watery to the point where its pretty much red water with bits of stuff in it. Is this how this salsa is supposed to be or did i get a bad batch?